Yes, this images were taken in RAW and edited to some extent in Adobe Lightroom ... not by much though:). I created a few videos on Lightroom and plan to create more for those interested:). th-cam.com/video/ZRJ8aifcin4/w-d-xo.html
Hi i love all your videos. I have question for you. Once the bunch of picture taken. How to check settings such as shutter speed, Aperture for the all the different pictures after going home or while post processing? e.g. sec 1/100 f/8
Hi real world. Great video. This is almost what I am looking for however, I would definitely be bbn interested in one that can transfer videos to your smartphone via bluetooth. Do you have a recommendation for a camera like that which won't break the bank? Thank you
Man, you're a really good photographer. Every photo was well-composed and balanced. Just goes to show it's who's holding the camera and not how expensive the camera is, that determines the quality of the shots.
I've owned multiple entry level cameras over the years mainly because they were gifts from my grandparents and I can say this is definitely my favorite and felt like the biggest leap in quality relative to price. For those getting into the world of photography I definitely recommend.
I purchased the D3400, viewed all of your D3400 video's, bought without the 55-300 w/o VR, bought 70-200 with VR, and waiting for my 35 mm 1.8f. Love the back button, and using shutter and aperture modes. Thank you so much for your truly informative instructions. At age 78, your detailed video's provided me great pleasure. Thanks, a Viking fan from Florida!
Thanks for the post/feedback Jim and glad to be of help:). Stay the course - at 78 you are just beginning ... GREAT to hear and keep up the good work!:) You are an inspiration to us all!:) 'A Vikings fan from Florida' gave me a good laugh ... I suspect you are a snowbird or relocated from Minnesota at some point?
Hey buddy, thank you for making my day. I bought this camera today with both the lens kit and it costed me $499 with extra battery, a bag and 2 years extended warranty. I believe it was a steal deal.. :)
This is not my first comment on this video, because I watch it frequently to learn more about the settings used for low light photography. Thanks for providing the settings, and demonstrating the capabilities of the D3400. While it's on the low end of Nikon's DSLR offerings, the sensor is superb, and you've done a great job of showing the kind of images it can capture when in the hands of a competent user.
Thanks for the post/feedback William and glad to be of help!:) Agreed - the D3400 is a solid camera in my opinion. I have used it countless times over the last couple of years and continue to use it today ... a bit of knowledge and experience will go a long way with this camera:).
Good deal. Consider, after a few months test a coupld of Full Frame prime lenses from 35mm 1.8 down to 24mm 1.8 or if you want to go mid-tele an 85mm 1.8 and then you will have a very cheap camera which can be the 2nd body if/when you go for a FF Nikon. I recomment the D750 which will really drop look at it if it hits under $1,000, It is a great FF for low light because it has the largest pixels in a mid-price Nikon at 6µm. I have the D750 and a D850, the best pair for the money and all of my needs. Good-luck.
Just purchased a D3400 and stumbled onto your videos. A big THANKS. I can’t believe how much you have taught me in a few short hours. Thank you so much for producing these videos.
You've been a huge help getting me started with my D3400! Even though it's considered to be a dinky, entry-level DSLR, it's a big jump from a smartphone camera. It's awesome to have professional advice for free on demand.
Hello Luke - thank you for the feedback and glad to be of help!:) The camera is funny ... I have shot with many cameras over the years and find the D3400 growing on me:). It is an entry level camera but I find it to be more capable than I originally thought:). My next video will be on intro to flash. I may create a series of videos on just using flash as I have various ideas. Take a look at my video on P, S, A, and M modes as I feel this is important for anyone starting out ... then practice, practice, and practice some more:).
Paul Barnes reply if you can please, i am planning to buy one but still need some advice from you about it ...is it good or bad and what are your thoughts about it?
I have been researching this camera for a while but u am now 100 percent sure I want this. I'm mostly looking to use it for nature shots and maybe the wildlife as well. Honestly, I'm just looking to see how far this camera can take me until I choose my next camera.
Thanks for the post/feedback and glad to be of help!:) I suspect you are on the right path ... use this camera to test the waters. This is a fully capable camera with some good features, etc.
I bought a D3300 for my wife for a change of her D3100 a while ago. And an AF-P 18-55. The lens was surprisingly high-tech for it's price of 50 bucks used. AF was incredible. And in video mode is very intelligent. Yes, plastic was bad,. Front cover locking mechanism was broken, lose the sense of manual focus- feels more digital. But it was really good, silent and compact. After some profile tweaking i found a really great smooth picture in NL, almost film-like. Pushed dynamic range to the max. The only thing i notice is a bit purpulish tone on whites, as far as can tune a white balance offset. But it was in some light conditions. Just shoot and get a really nice prints from jpgs, instantly. Really smooth and detailed. Love it! Definitely has it's own feel.
Welcome to the world of DSLRs and the D3400!:) Take time to understand the camera and features. Since this is digital, have fun and practice, practice, practice:). Do not be concerned with exploring all the features and settings ... this is how we learn:).
Lol I liked the part when your dog ran away and the guy in the song laughed as you chased it! I thought that was clever, haha. Good video though, thanks for the review!
I always wanted my own stand alone camera to shoot awesome photos, but I was unsure about the right camera for me. Those are some freaking awesome photos man, including the ones in the forest and the street light photos.
This camera is my Christmas present this yr. Ordered last night as it was in a Black Friday sale for $499. Came with 2 lenses, case,32mb card,free online class. I've been looking at this months.. excited about it being here in a few weeks..
Hello and thank you for the feedback and sharing my thoughts!:) Unfortunately, a dislike can happen regardless of ones effort to produce a solid/quality video. Whenever I view another video, I am always appreciative of the effort someone took to share. If I find value in a video, I let the owner/producer know with a nice comment and thumbs up. If find no value, I simply move on. Just my two cents:). Thanks again!:)
RealWorld Very true! Regardless, thanks for putting the time into making this great video, it just helped me make my decision. Thanks again. :) Beautiful pictures by the way.
Hello Robert - great lens - go for it in my opinion:). The 50mm 1.8 is another great option. In many circles photographers talk about the 35mm and 50mm ... both are great. I carry the 50mm but have also used the 35mm.
Really good video mate! you explained everything really well and your review was very helpful! I will definitely buy this from what I have heard on your video!
Thank you for the post/feedback and welcome to the channel!:) Enjoy the camera and stay with it ... once you dive into the world of photography a whole new whole of creative will open.
Subscribed for future vids! 😂 Thanks for this review of the Nikon D3400. I recently bought it as my first ever dSLR and I couldn't be happier with it. It's a solid beginner camera which lets me make great shots, it's user-friendly, and it's not too steep in terms of its price. One comment though, SnapBridge is capable of transferring a full-resolution JPEG via Bluetooth. I've tried it multiple times, and it works. However, the transfer rate is just painfully slow. But as you said, "entry-level dSLR", right? 😂
@@trevorbetty939 at JPEG fine and large image size, each picture took at least 3 minutes before they were transferred to my phone. You'll be better off using a card reader to transfer photos.
Thanks for the post/feedback and welcome to the channel!:) Agreed - SnapBridge can take a relatively loooong time to transfer large images. SnapBridge started off rough (tough to connect, etc.), but Nikon provide a newer firmware which seemed to resolve many issues. If you have a newer camera, I suspect you may have the latest firmware. I created a video which might help to confirm/check - th-cam.com/video/yiVxtrOmSUw/w-d-xo.html
i enjoy all your videos sir! it helps a lot. i already bought d3400 and your tutorials really helps. i learnes a lot from you, thanks so much and keep on doing such amazing videos.
Thank you! I just bought one of these for my mom to be her first DSLR after reading good reviews, and this video gave me an idea of what I gave her. I think I made the right choice. Loved you including the photos you took with it. Would have liked more about how sturdy you feel the construction to be/how nice it feels in the hand. Best wishes!
I would lean towards the D3400 ... higher resolution (24mp vs 18), much better battery life (1200 shots vs 440), and Nikon removed the AA filter (making for slightly sharper images). The one advantage to the 700D is the articulating screen.
LOL - the only reason it is considered entry level is because the 3000 series is the starting lineup for Nikon. The camera is solid/capable in my opinion:).
Hello and thanks for the question!:) DSLRs allow photographers to be more creative and capture unique images. I would suggest going with the D3400 over the T6 as the Nikon offers much better battery life (1200 shots vs 500), higher resolution (24mp vs 18mp), slightly faster burst mode (5 vs 3), and Nikon removed the AA filter making images a bit more sharp.
After seeing this video I'd consider buying Nikon D3400 over Canon T6 but I'm wondering if the bluetooth isn't a problem because I'd really like passing the pictures to my cellphone so do you think it'd be a problem for me?
Sure appreciate all your videos so far. Just bought a DLSR yesterday, The only thing I'd have appreciated seeing is how adjusting the lens manually with your hands fits into the whole PSAM picture.
Thanks for the post/feedback!:) Congrats on the camera - take time to practice, practice, practice and creative doors will open:). I have an older fixed 50mm lens which requires manual focus. After using auto focus for so long, it is tough to go back to manual:). Very doable but you must ensure to dial-in the focus which can be tough on moving subjects:).
RealWorld thank you for that reply! Just shows how totally clueless I am. But I was referring to the kit lens. The 18-55. So, are you saying I needn't touch it - that I could have adjusted the zoom from the body? Anyway, I want to compliment you on your easygoing, patient, kind teaching style. I love that I needn't leave my house to learn! Cheers from California.
Thanks for the feedback and glad to be of help!:) My fault - I originally thought you asked about manual focus:). After taking a closer look, I see you were asking about zooming which is a different story:). Yes, you will hold the lens in your left hand and rotate the lens clockwise or counter-clockwise to zoom in or out. If I think about it while creating the next video I will point out some basic tips and trick for holding the camera, etc.
Also I'm moving from a go pro session / iPhone 6 and 7 camera to the 3400 for my videos. Will the lack of the audio jack really hurt my audio or will it be tolerable if nothing else? I'm trying to get the depth look (auto focus, blurred background etc) but I don't want my audio to suffer. Would love your opinion!
Great question!:) If the camera had a mic-in, you would most likely want to get an external mic (like a Rode mic). The built-in mic is not too bad in a relative quiet environment but can be tough outdoors with slight wind or indoors with a good amount of ambient noise or if you are relative far from the camera. I created a video showing the difference between the Sony a5100 built-in mic and the Zoom H1 using a cheap lavaliere mic ... video can be found here: th-cam.com/video/4StJ6QmYvpQ/w-d-xo.html ... will the built-in mic on the D5300 work? Yes. If you want better audio and still want the D3400, consider getting the Zoom H1 and cheap lavaliere (amzn.to/2c5ITrP (don't be overly concerned the 3.5 star rating IMO - it's not the best but it does the trick:)). You can find the Zoom H1 on Amazon as well or from Best Buy if you have one nearby:). Hope this helps!:)
I truly appreciate the in-depth answer! I've never had a DSLR before and I was recommended the D3400. I can tell my quality will go up LOOKS wise but I never want any aspect to suffer. I really appreciate it, and I defiantly mean it when I say you deserve way more subscribers than you have!
Thank you for the feedback!:) DSLRs are addicting in various ways IMO:). Once you discover how to manipulate three key aspects, you will be on your way ... aperture which controls background blur, shutter speed which stops motion, and ISO which controls detail. Post processing is an important part of the overall enjoyment as well ... this allows the photographer's creativity to sore IMO:)
RealWorld I can tell this will become an unhealthy addition rather quickly! Also one last question (I'm still a total novice) that 3.5mm jack you linked me, is there a port on the 3400 for it? Or do I need to buy an adapter or anything else for it? If all I truly need is the cable that would be great :)
Unfortunately, the D3400 does not have a mic-in port (so there is no place for a 3.5mm to fit). The cheap lavaliere mic I linked will connect into the Zoom H1:). This might seem a bit overwhelming at the start, but you will get the hang of it soon enough:). If you use the Zoom H1 and a cheap lavaliere mic, you will need to sync the video and audio which can be done using post processing software like adobe premiere, power director, etc.
When I shoot indoor sports the lighting in my pictures are always weird. For example, one side of the picture is very dark while the other side might be brighter. My friend says its probably the white balance but my camera is always on auto white balance (I shoot on sports mode). What should I do?
Hmmmm - curious to see a few shots. If you have them posted somewhere, please post a link. Indoor sports are challenging for various reasons. If you want to capture fast action indoors, you need good lighting and/or a fast lens (meaning a lens with a wide open aperture (f/1.4, 1.8, etc.). If you ever look on the sidelines of major sporting events, you will typically see photographers with long/large lenses. These are fixed/fast zoom lenses capable of shooting 400mm at 1.8 for example. Unfortunately, the cost is too high for most to afford:). A great alternative in my opinion is the fixed 50mm f/1.8 which is much more affordable. The obvious trade off is zoom:). You can only reach 50mm but if you have the ability to get relatively close to the action, not a problem:). Regarding your images ... white balance related to the over color of the image so I do not believe this is your issue. I suspect one of two issues: 1) general lighting. Perhaps your subject is closer to a light source of some sort causing the image to be brighter on one side vs the other. 2) you are using a flash with a fast shutter. The flash sync speed is typically around 1/200th of a second. If you attempt to flash a subject and force the shutter speed past 1/200th of a second, this can cause the given issue. The shutter will move too fast for the flash to proper light the entire frame.
RealWorld www.flickr.com/photos/152964942@N05/24029160368/in/dateposted-public/ you can see that some of the images are bright and then dark in others. One thing i noticed is that the first picture i take is usually bright, and then when i take burst shots it gets dark throughout the image. Is this normal? thanks.
NICE picts!:) Great to see you are putting everything into action!:) I have taken indoor volleyball picts as well using the same 50mm f/1.8 - a great lens for many reasons:). I see a slightly although noticeable difference between DSC_0026 1 and DCS_0025 along with a few others ... both are viewable in their own respects but a color shift is noticed when viewed side-by-side ... this question is why? I suspect the answer regards white balance:). I can see in some of the photos a gym light which might be fluorescent (DSC_0154). Nonetheless, gym lighting is typically not a photographers friend:). I would suggest switching from auto white balance to fluorescent ... take a couple of shots and see if that is any better. Were these shot is jpeg? If taken in RAW, you can select the white balance in post edit using a tool like Lightroom:). Hope this helps!:)
Thank you, I just bought the D3400 as my first camera after this review. I was considering a bridge camera, but the quality and price of this DSLR was too hard to pass up.
Realworld, cruise was great other than getting stuck on the ship due to an injury to my foot in San Juan,Puerto Rico. But I was able to get over 200 photographs of my friends wedding and cruise photos.
Right?!:) Agreed - this is great fully capable camera in my opinion and welcome to the world of DSLRs!:) Take time to understand all the features and practice, practice, practice and above all else - have fun!:)
Hi Raymond and thanks for the question!:) I would go with the D3400 over the 1300D/T6 IMO. The D3400 has MUCH better battery life, greater resolution, a few more focusing points, and lacks the AA filter. Hope this helps!:)
I endorse your suggestion to put more money into a lens like the 18-200 VR. That is exactly what I did years ago when I bought my first DSLR, a reasonable priced Nikon D60 combined with the more expensive 18-200 VR - which I am convinced will outlive the D60 by far - I'm still using both though, with the single addition of a 35 mm 1.8 for the special occations. My previous combinations of SLR's with multiple lenses simply caused to much hustle and bustle and loss of opportunities. Availability and readiness should not be underestimated. The D60 is still enough for me. The real challenge is to bring it into the right place at the right moment.
Well stated!:) I typically use the 18-200 and carry a fixed 50 f/1.8. I really like the fixed 50 with a wide open aperture to capture nice blurred backgrounds and/or fast moving action:).
Nikon D5300 VS Canon 700D VS Nikon D3400 Can't decide which one is the best so please help!!!!! I want the best Video & Audio quality & The best pictures.. So please help me which one should I choose!!!!
Hello - I will give you my two cents ... cross the Canon 700D off the list. If a rotating screen is important, go for the D5300 BUT ensure the lens is AF-P and not AF-S. Since you mention video is important, you will want the AF-P lens (this is Nikon's silent auto focus system). You can still record video with the AF-S lens, but the camera will hunt and make noise to find focus as you pan or zoom (very annoying in my opinion). The 18-55mm kits lens included with the Nikon D3400 has the AF-P. Unfortunately, the D3400 does not have a rotating screen. The rotating screen is nice to have but not required ... if you plan to do any self-compositions, the rotating screen is very helpful as you can imagine:). Regarding image quality ... the D3400 and D5300 share the same sensor and resolution which is nice. Another quick note - the D3400 does not have a built-in mic jack. The camera will still record audio with the built-in mics but you will not be able to connect an external mic for better sound ... this may not be a big deal but worth noting. Hope this helps!:)
RealWorld Thank you Very much for your reply . As I want good audio in the video so I will attach a mic so am going with Nikon D5300!!!!! Am taking the AF-P lens 18-55mm & the 70-300mm ... So ty real world for helping me choosing the right camera!!!!!
but what about 39 auto focus points , 11 cross focus points in D5300 comparing to 11 auto focus points in D3400 and 1 cross focus point? What kind of photography requires more auto focus points?
But some one told me you can save location when you connect this camera with your mobile phone. Photos will automatically saved with Geo tagging. Please confirm me is it real or fake..
Yes you can if you use snapbridge it will allow and actually ask if you want to when you set snapbridge up. You have to have the location option enabled on your phone for this to work
Thanks for the post/question!:) This is a matter of understanding/control depth of field based on distance to subject, aperture, and focal length. I created a video discussing depth of field in more detail which can be found here: th-cam.com/video/EGesxJeY8_s/w-d-xo.html ... another good/quick source/tool found on the web can be found here: www.photopills.com/calculators/dof ... once you have a basic understanding of this concept, you will be in great shape:).
Ahhhhh yes:). I plan to review the D3500 as soon as I can get my hands on one:). From what I understand, there are only a few minor differences between the two.
i watched that video when i was begginer and looking for a first camera.I remember how many times i watched that video to get my hype up .Now i'm happy with my 3500
Great video. I am a long time Canon shooter since 2005. Rebel XT, 20D, 40D, 5DII, and just recently sold my 7D and lenses(TODAY). I've been looking around and I'm really drawn toward the Nikon D3400 or possibly D3300. You're the only person I've seen that has talked about the file size limit on the Bluetooth. After hearing that I'm leaning towards buying just a D3300 body and adding glass to it. I've had all prime setups in the past and really loved it. Maybe just grab the 18-55mm if it's part of a bundle and cheap enough. I also need a macro solution. I'm in the watch repair business and sell parts as well. Some parts are no more than 1 or 2mm in size. So, having something that can clearly take photos without a huge amount of cropping and image quality loss is nice. I had extension tubes on the 7D, but found it hard to light the things I was shooting because I had to have the lens right on top of the watch or parts. Can you suggest anything for my needs? Again, thanks for the wonderful video.
Thanks for the post/feedback!:) Macro lenses are fun and have the ability to capture awesome detail. One relatively affordable lens to consider in my opinion would be the Nikon 85mm f/3.5 (amzn.to/2sIjhNC). Lighting is always a challenge depending on the situation:). I miiiiiight suggest the Sigma ring flash (amzn.to/2sIyVZt). I stress might only because I am looking for alternatives - not that it is bad, just looking for more affordable:). Regarding file size limits on Bluetooth - yes, it is a problem in my opinion and I may create another video providing more details, etc. Nikon believes most people want to take photos w/ their nice cameras > transfer them to their phone > upload to sites like instagram (only access with mobile devices). The problem is this - I believe a good amount of creative comes in post processing. The composition, lighting, focal points, etc. lay the foundation for the image, but post processing adds polish ... polish that can really enhance the overall image to make it unique in my opinion. Nonetheless, the D3300 and D3400 share the same sensor, resolution, and overall image quality ... you should be fine:).
Thanks for the tips and clarification. I think the D3300 should be fine. I currently run RAW files through Lightroom and sometimes CS5. And you're right, the post processing does add the polish and I enjoy it. Plus, when I do my parts I list them on eBay through my desktop anyway. I've already seen some sub $300 deals for used D3300's, so this should leave room for a couple good lenses. I'm certain I will enjoy this more than the 7D. I was having problems with it and also noticing noise at low ISO levels. Will be nice to be using newer gear and not being let down. Thanks again. let me know if you know of any other solutions for macro. Subscribing to your channel as well. :-)
Every explanation is good and very helpful thanks a lot. And one question with the 18-55 p type lence is its good at continuous auto focus?? Because quick focus is much important for me..
A little late for this video but here it goes. I’m an old time SLR film user and its been about 30 years since shooting. I have also shot video of my kids growing up (e.g., sports, band, graduation, family etc.). That has been about 15 years ago. They (i.e., my kids) are each expecting their first child and want to get back into shooting video and stills with one camera. I’ve narrow down my search to the Nikon 3400, Canon t6i and Panasonic Lumix G7. I like all f them but in particular the Nikon lenses, battery length…not snapbridge and non-articulating screen; I like Canon’s color, articulating screen, focusing, wifi and not the battery and cost; G7’s articulating screen and 4K capability - although not sure of 4K use and impact with storage and post processing and looks a little on the cheap side? They all appear to be close in price with the Canon a little more expensive - but all manageable. Of your video reviews you appear to favor the Nikon (i.e., and me too) but not sure if not having an articulating screen will haunt me down the road. I’m figuring I’ll download images via the camera or a disk reader and snapbridge should not an issue - also I’d use my phone for 2 meg photos. What do you think? I tried to keep short as this is my “top level” thoughts… LOL.
Thanks for the post!:) Wow, sounds like you have done your research and have experience in the field both of which I respect:). If you were more into video, I might lean towards the G7. Panasonic is great on video but the G7 has a smaller sensor and weaker battery (to be expect given it is mirrorless). I am not big on 4k at this time as I feel 1080p looks great and most videos on viewed on mobile devices (huge files and very hard to distinguish 4k from 1080p on a mobile device in my opinion:)). I feel Canon's STM lens (found in many T6i kits) is great at tracking focus for video. In addition, the T6i's live view is better than the D3400 in my opinion. I reviewed the T6i which can be found here - th-cam.com/video/sTi9aUTITlo/w-d-xo.html Nikon removed the AA filter (anti-aliasing filter which tends to soften images to some extent; many photographers like to see this removed) from the D3400. Nikon includes the AF-P lens in most kits. The AF-P is Nikon's silent AF system intended to compete the Canon's STM. While I like the STM over the AF-P, the AF-P does the trick. The D3400 lacks the articulating screen, but not a huge deal in my opinion unless you want to self compose:). On a side note - the D5600 has an articulating touch screen ( video review here - th-cam.com/video/qDeW1PYCnmA/w-d-xo.html ). While I use the D3400 in many videos, any of the given techniques will apply to any given camera. If I were in your shoes, I would determine the primary function (mainly video (G7), equal video and photo (T6i), mainly photos (D3400)) and budget. Many cameras hold their value which is good (more so for lenses than bodies). Hope all this helps!:)
Thanks so much for your reply. I appreciate your expertise and recommendations. I really enjoy your informative videos and look forward to new ones - no pressure...LoL. Yes, I need to envision usage and am now thinking the Canon with extra battery might be the way to go. The videos will be great with the grandkids and family but will want to expand more into photography too. Thanks again.
Thanks for the post and agree - nice lenses can make a difference:). I am reviewing the Nikon 18-300 today and should have a review vid out in the next few days:).
Good job! And thank you for emphasizing the absence of an anti-aliasing (which Nikon calls a low-pass) filter on this camera. I wish I had known about that before I went with Canon. It's on all of their DSLRs, and degrades the sharpness of the image a lot, especially on the APS-C models. This looks like a great camera for still photography, but if you use that non-stabilized 70-300 lens it better be on a tripod, unless the shutter speed is 1/250 or faster. Also, the lack of a microphone jack is a serious minus for videography, since in-camera mics are never very good.
Hello Patrick and welcome to the channel!:) Thank you for the comments and I agree on all fronts:). I have successfully used non-VR lenses at slower shutter speeds, but the faster the better:). I am not certain why Nikon included a mic input on the 3300 but pulled it from the 3400. Nonetheless, the 3400 is a great place to start IMO!:) I just got my hands on the Canon T6i which I plan to review in the next day or two ... I plan to take a closer look AA impact along with other features, etc.
Thanks! I've discovered that, though it seems obscure and nerdy, it's actually a pretty big deal. So much so that Nikon prominently features the lack of it in their promotional material for their expensive pro level D810 and also the D500. Again, I was pleased to see you point it out in the review, and if you really want to do the newbies a favor, encourage them to remove those godawful UV and skylight filters from their lenses too! :D
I went ahead and bought a refurbished D3400 with a TON of extra goodies for $279. What a deal, but the kit lens it came with only has an F-stop of 3.5, if I zoom in even a little it only goes to 4.5 I was hoping to see if I could capture the Milky Way but something tells me this 18-55 kit lens isn't going to cut it. Do you have any suggestions for a better lens with an improved F-stop that isn't ridiculously expensive for this camera?
Thanks for the post!:) Sounds like you got a great deal as well!:) I created a video on shooting the stars with the D3400 which can be found here - th-cam.com/video/8uvW4HL3sso/w-d-xo.html ... the zoom range on the 18-55 kit will vary from 3.5 - 5.6 depending on the zoom. If you are zoomed all the way out, you can open the aperture to 3.5. If you are zoom all the way in, you can open to 5.6. When shooting the stars, you should be fine using various apertures. The key to seeing them will most likely be the ISO (if you shoot at f/8, you will need to increase the ISO to some extent in order to see the start when shooting at a shutter of 25 seconds or less (shooting more than 25 seconds will increase the change of seeing blur)).
Great video. Easily understood technical points. After seeing this I ordered a package for my wife for Christmas. I will update to let you know how things went.Thanks again
Just picked this one up as 1st dslr. Granted I did get the dual lens and bag kit through Micrcenter for $500. Thank you for showing full exposure settings with each test pic! This will be an excellent refrence vid as I familiarize myself more with the cameras capabilities!
Hmmmm ... one major issue with the a5000 is overheating when shooting video (this can happen around 10 mins of continuous shooting). i might lean towards the d3400 although the video AF will struggle. if you are open for another suggestion, i might suggest the Canon t6i or t7i (t6i will be more affordable though). i have review both which can be found here: t6i - th-cam.com/video/sTi9aUTITlo/w-d-xo.html t7i - th-cam.com/video/jgvPRGscehs/w-d-xo.html i would lean towards the t6i or t7i over the d3400 if you plan to shoot video. Canon does a nice job with AF when shooting video IMO:).
Hey! Just a follow up, I actually picked up this kit the other day and was able to transfer a 7.2 Mb file (JPEG, havent tested Raw) and there is an option to remotely activate the camera from your smart device!
Hello and thank you for the follow-up:). I just completed a review of SnapBridge and plan to upload in the next day or two. Transferring images from the camera back to a smartphone is limited to 2mb. In addition, Nikon does not offer the ability to remotely control the camera from a smart device using SnapBridge (SnapBridge can be used to remotely control other cameras in the Nikon line (i.e. the D500) but not the D3400). Stay tuned to the channel for more information:).
Thanks for the Video RealWorld great info and perspective! Im brand brand new to photography but I really want to get into it. I dig this vid because of the the honest and obvious professional approach you take as well as the encouragement. keep it up!
Welcome to the channel and thank you for the feedback!:) I am glad to be of encourage and encourage you to go for it ... many years ago I discovered the world of photography to be a creative outlet. It allows me to creatively compose a scene and tell a story with one shot, one instance ... some stories are better than others and some are stories that I may only understand, but they are stories nonetheless:). Thanks again for the feedback and welcome to the world of DSLRs!:)
Hello. Nice and usefull review! I have one question: What you will choose between d3400 and d3500, if the price of d3400 is smaller with 100$ than d3500? Thank you in advance.
Thanks for the post/feedback/question:). I would lean towards the D3400 ... Nikon removed the IR sensor and function button from the D3500 ... everything else is virtually the same:).
Thanks mate. Just convinced me to get this over the Canon 700D. I've always borrowed friends DSLRs so it's time to get my own as I've finally put my original Nikon FE to rest.
Excellent video with some great "need-to-know" thoughts. I am an avid hunter and fisherman so I encounter wildlife quite often throughout the year and would love to capture the beautiful images so that everyone can see what I see. I am personally considering delving into the photography world(wildlife,nature) and this video helped me in my decision; however, it would be great to see a comparison video for starter DSLR's and your opinion on which would be the best to begin with.
Hello Nick - thanks for the post/feedback!:) DSLRs are great for wildlife as I like to trek through the woods myself:). I have used a good number of cameras over years. I have not touch all entry level cameras but focused on a handful. If you want small/compact, you might consider a mirrorless like the sony a6000 which you should be able to find used and save some money. The a6000 is a good/solid camera but a different feel compared to a DSLR like the D3400. The D3400 is a solid entry level DSLR in my opinion and has a much better battery life compared the a6000. The Canon T6i is another consideration if you want a rotating screen which can be nice (but I would lean towards the D3400 before the T6i unless the screen were important for your needs).
I love my D3400. Amazon has the 55-200mm VR for $150 and the price for the 70-300mm VR just dropped to $250. My experience is that setting the aperture manually and then letting the camera set the shutter speed gives the best results. It will bump up the ISO insanely high on auto and I do not like the grainy look, so I set it manually at 400. The color this bad boy gives is like Technicolor. Hand held shots on full telephoto with the 55-200mm are rock steady. Love it
Thanks for the post. The 70-300 VR is nice for extra reach when needed. I feel comfortable extended well beyond 400 ISO:). The higher one goes, the grainier the image but with a APS-C sensor at 24mp, the camera does a great job with higher ISOs in my opinion. If you want to have a faster shutter in lower light situations, let the ISO rise:). If too high, consider using a good noise reduction feature in post production (some work better than others:)).
I am still figuring my D3400 out. I am not much of a computer guy so I tend to focus on getting the shot right with the camera. Do you have any advice on 2x teleconverters? I am beginning to think they are just not worth it, the reviews are all over the place.
Hello Egar - I can respect that:). When I shot with film, you had to get in right in camera:). Nonetheless, I can and may create some basic how-to videos regarding Lightroom (Lightroom is the go-to application for many photographers rich with various features). As you move forward with digital photography, you will need to think about storage, easy retrieval, etc. ... it will help to warm-up to some package - any package:). Are teleconverters worth the money? I rarely use them ... I may leverage one if trying to capture a shot of the moon. I would suggest to hold-off unless you have a specific need OR you find a used one for a good price.
The Nikon 2x's are $300-500 and even they seem to have issues. Quality control? I don't know. I am going to get the 70-300mm and then 2x on my computer and leave it at that. TY again!
This is doable:). Since the wide open aperture at 300 is nothing to write home about, it is still doable. The catch? Turn up the ISO:). I have done the same and it works well. If you go too high, the resulting images will have noise but I shoot in raw (you can shoot in jpeg as well) and remove in Lightroom ( I have a video on removing noise in Lightroom as well - th-cam.com/video/pKnpLb32j1w/w-d-xo.html ).
@realworld Hello. Picture at 6:21, how did you do it? Focus is basically right in the middle of the table in a straight line and everything else is in nice blur-bokeh. At what settings did you shot? Spot focus? I just don't understand, if you can explain. By the way, I'm new at photography.
What's wrong with the 300 lens? It seems to come in handy taking distance landscape shots. I didn't know about the lack of the shock absorber so, not good for wildlife stuff I guess?
Thanks for the post/question Chris ... are you referring to the 70-300? If so, I created a review on the 70-300 and feel the results were relatively solid:). The biggest challenge for wildlife is the aperture ... have a good zoom with a wide aperture is always a plus for wildlife photographers. The 70-300 does not have a super wide aperture at 300, but you can raise the ISO to increase the shutter speed if needed:).
@@RealWorld Thanks, as you may have guessed I'm so new at this I stink. Yes, it's the 70-300 kit lens you get with the D 3400. I'm trying to learn everything at once. and the lenses are what I least know anything about. If I could catch your review on that lens it would be great. So far I'm practicing landscape and night shots all in manual mode and I need a lot more practice. And to know which lens to use for what. Your videos are great! I learned a lot from them Thanks!
Not a problem ... you will get there!:) Manual mode can be more challenging but fun ... keep an eye on the exposure meter and make the appropriate adjustments and you will fine:). Here is a video I created on the 70-300 - th-cam.com/video/1RaXjNuD6ls/w-d-xo.html ... I remember this day - coooooold:).
I have D3400.. Now i want to upgrade.. Which one i should purchase as my first prime lense.. 50mm or 35mm? Which one have good background blurr effects?
I created a video on the both the 50 ( th-cam.com/video/e2TZVu7yZig/w-d-xo.html ) and 35 ( th-cam.com/video/BG0eZZaMmYE/w-d-xo.html ). The decision will be based on personal preference. Nonetheless, I prefer the 50 ( amzn.to/2kD7EkF ), as I like more zoom/reach with the lens:).
this is late to respond but no, the self-cleaning is a not a big deal:). the self-cleaning function is simply a micro vibration on the sensor to help loosen any dust particles that may have settled ... not a huge deal IMO:).
My boyfriend got me this camera as a Christmas gift last season. I have never used a DSLR brfore, so it's been a learning experience. I am pleased with it so far, but I'm mainly into doing bird and nature photography. Is this the right camera to use for that? I haven't been able to perfect it.
Thanks for the post/question Kim!:) Sounds like you have a nice boyfriend!:) Capturing birds can be tough with any camera. The D3400 does not have a huge number of focal points but you can still capture birds. The simply technique is to spray and pray (meaning take a bunch of shot using continuous shooting and hope you get one or two keepers:)). This will take time, patients, and practice, but you can do it!:)
I do a lot of natural landscape photography and mainly purchased this kit because of the 70-300 lens. Regardless of it not being VR, with any good tripod the lens has proven 100%. The 18-55 lens is good but I use the 70-300 85% more of the time.
Hello - welcome to the channel and thank you for the post!:) You are absolutely correct - with a good trip and/or fast shutter, the VR does not come into play. VR is primarily helpful if you are shooting on the fringe - meaning the camera needs a slightly slower shutter to properly expose an image. If you have a tripod or any solid surface, VR is mute:).
RealWorld Agreed, and I love your channel. I really appreciate the reviews on this as I am not a beginner but it's been 20 years since I have used an slr camera. Can you give any hints as how to use an extension wide angle lens on this kit? My kit came with 2 extra screw on lenses. One is a 2.2X High Def AF Telephoto lens and the other is a 0.43XHigh Def wide angle lens. I have attached them both to the 55MM lens but can't make heads or tails out of either. Thanks. :)
Hello and thank you for the comment:). The D3200 was/is a good starter as well ... the D3400 builds upon the 3200 and 3300. I am curious to see what Nikon plans for the D3500:).
Hi I’m a new photographer and I have a D3400 now for about a year. And looking to upgrade to a Nikon D7100 would this be and upgrade or a down grade for use in 2019 for small gigs portrait and street photography please give me feedback Thank you
Thanks for the post/feedback Mark!:) Although the D7100 was released in 2013 and the D3400 in 2016, the D7100 has a few advantages ... build quality (feels more durable/solid in my opinion), more focal points (51 vs 11), faster max shutter speed (1/8000 vs 1/4000, 1/4000 might be faster enough for most situations though), time lapse, mic port (if you plan to record sound using an external mic during videos), and is weather sealed:). I shot with the D7000 for many years and enjoyed the camera - it was/is a beast. When I first got my hands on the D3400, I thought, wow - this thing is light and might easily break, etc. After using the D3400 for the last couple of years and going back to pickup my D7000 I think, wow - this thing is heavy!:) There is one thing I would like to see in the D7100 that is in the D3400 ... a higher ISO (25600 vs 6400). You may never shoot above 12800 on a crop sensor, but I have definitely shot above 6400 is relatively low light situations without a flash. Hope all is this helps!:)
Great video. Some really nice photos. Really showed off the camera. I know this video is 4 years old but after watching it I just went and ordered a d3500. Seems to be the ideal camera for me in terms of price and image quality. I've got a nikon b700 which is great but just wanted an interchangeable lens camera with a bit better IQ for when I'm not out taking wildlife photo's.
Thanks for the post/question Lizbeth!:) BBF is great as you do not need to hold the shutter button halfway down to lock focus. If you push too hard, the camera will take a shot. In addition, if you lock focus and attempt to recompose the shot, you need to hold the button halfway down. This is one of those things that will make more sense once you use it - and give it time to gel:). Not certain if you caught my video on it - th-cam.com/video/6qUebpQeclY/w-d-xo.html
I have been looking between the D3400 and the D5300. I have done photography in the past but it has been many years. And I am looking for a entry level to start with. Which do you prefer or is there a different one with a similar price point that you would choose over these? I will mainly be looking at landscape, travel and up close. Not looking to do video. So was thinking a prime 50mm lens, but where they are crop sensors, should I go for a 35 mm? Is there a prime lender like that or should I stick to the 50?
Thanks for the post Erin:). Both cameras are solid with the main difference being the screen (the D5300 has a rotating screen). They both share the same sensor and resolution as well. I would suggest the D3400 w/ the 18-55 kit and if you budget has room, go for the fixed 50 f/1.8:). I like the fixed 50 on a crop as well. I find it great for portraits and any low light situation where you need a wide open aperture. I created a review on the fixed 50 which can be found here - th-cam.com/video/e2TZVu7yZig/w-d-xo.html and the fixed 35 which can be found here - th-cam.com/video/BG0eZZaMmYE/w-d-xo.html ... both are good but I tend to like a bit more reach.
my lovely song don't the end ,,,, A thousand times and a thousand times listened it at day, thanks so much about this video it's so beautiful , more again and again song
Thanks for the post/feedback and congrats on the D3400 kit!:) Nice find to have the VR on the 70-300 ... in the US I have only found kits with the non-VR 70-300. Makes sense to include the VR:).
The lens itself is an anti-aliasing filter, owing to the finite wavelength of light, and the finite size of the aperture, so removing the filter from the sensor has little effect. This can be understood in terms of Fourier optics. Further details are given in e.g. . Nikon have most likely omitted the filter because it saves them money! Lens aberrations will also filter high-frequency components from the image, particularly at wide apertures (small f-ratio).
Thanks for the post/information:). The primary purpose behind the AA filter is to reduce moire. AA filters sit in front of sensor and work by refracting light into 4 different paths. This inherently creates a very slight blur but hardly noticeable to the naked eye. Nonetheless, nice to have it removed in my opinion:).
+RealWorld: I think you may have been slightly misinformed about anti-aliasing. Moiré patterns are produced by similar repeating patterns that differ _slightly_ in some way. Aliasing is a consequence of the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem which applies to any band-limited sampled mathematical function. This generates artefacts in a sampled function from high frequency components that are sampled at a rate which is lower than double their frequency. In a two-dimensional image, these artefacts can have the appearance of a Moiré pattern, and may be described as such. However, they are more properly called aliasing artefacts, and can manifest itself in other ways besides Moiré patterns. They can be removed by applying a low-pass filter to the signal that blocks all frequencies above the Nyquist-Shannon limit (i.e. half the sampling rate) either by a physical filter or digital signal processing. In a camera, the lens itself is such a filter, as explained by the theory of Fourier optics. The digital image processor in the camera likely does some work on this as well. So, I am quite sure that the engineers at Nikon understand all this theory very well, and realised that the anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor does not really serve any useful purpose in a D3[2-5]00 camera, and simply dumped it after the D3200. You can do the calculation for yourself and see that this is true!
You are wealth of knowledge!:) I had a basic/good understanding but you have shed additional light on the topic. Curious to know know more about your background, as I suspect an engineer of some sort?:)
+RealWorld: I am a senior research scientist, physicist, computer scientist, astronomer, and sometimes do a bit of chemistry, and I still _love_ learning new things. The great thing about physics and maths is you can just work out stuff and find answers to problems. However, photography is also an art where you need to take the camera out of its bag, remove the lens cap, and get on with taking pretty pictures. The soul-destroying manuals and menus that come with modern digital cameras are the biggest obstacle to this activity in the *Real World*, so your videos with great, practical ideas like how to set up back-button focus are a huge help. It still doesn't quite fulfil my desire to turn the aperture and focus rings on the lens though! :-) Pushing buttons is not quite the same thing when trying to be creative.
LOL - too funny james as I have received a handful of comments over the last year or two regarding this topic:). I did not pay much attention to the chatter until one day when I decided to research the topic:). The correct pronunciation is neekon ... I am hit and miss when I create new videos. I have always pronounced it nikon (as written (long 'i')):).
Hey there. I first talked to you last fall when I got my D3400. I've been happy with it and have learned a lot from your videos. My pictures are getting much better. I do wish it had a mic jack on it. I was wondering what camera you shot your video for this with? Its super sharp. Thanks a bunch for all the vids.
Thanks for the post and glad to be of help!:) The D3400 is a solid/capable camera:). I shot this video with the Sony a5100 ... the a5100 does a great job with locking focus but has one major flaw in my opinion - the camera will overheat when shooting video for more than 10 mins roughly. This can be very frustrating when shooting multiple takes, etc.
@@RealWorld I can see where that would be a major drag. I forgot to say I dig the tunes you pick for your videos. I play guitar and keys. I can relate to the tunes you pick.
Feel free to follow me on Instragram - instagram.com/realworldpicts
do you edit the pictures?
Yes, this images were taken in RAW and edited to some extent in Adobe Lightroom ... not by much though:). I created a few videos on Lightroom and plan to create more for those interested:). th-cam.com/video/ZRJ8aifcin4/w-d-xo.html
Hi i love all your videos. I have question for you. Once the bunch of picture taken. How to check settings such as shutter speed, Aperture for the all the different pictures after going home or while post processing? e.g. sec 1/100 f/8
Hi real world. Great video. This is almost what I am looking for however, I would definitely be bbn interested in one that can transfer videos to your smartphone via bluetooth. Do you have a recommendation for a camera like that which won't break the bank? Thank you
Vídeo com Nikon D3400👇🏽
th-cam.com/video/GZvb07J9sLU/w-d-xo.html
Não esquece deixa um like e subscrever no meu canal por favor 🙏🏾 video cinematic
Man, you're a really good photographer. Every photo was well-composed and balanced. Just goes to show it's who's holding the camera and not how expensive the camera is, that determines the quality of the shots.
Thanks for the post/feedback! :)
Is this guy John cena's cousin
MOIZ AND TALHA yo I swear....
Yeha right brother
Ha ha ha, John cena's brother,
Could barely see him :/
john cena + casey neistat
I've owned multiple entry level cameras over the years mainly because they were gifts from my grandparents and I can say this is definitely my favorite and felt like the biggest leap in quality relative to price. For those getting into the world of photography I definitely recommend.
I purchased the D3400, viewed all of your D3400 video's, bought without the 55-300 w/o VR, bought 70-200 with VR, and waiting for my 35 mm 1.8f. Love the back button, and using shutter and aperture modes. Thank you so much for your truly informative instructions. At age 78, your detailed video's provided me great pleasure. Thanks, a Viking fan from Florida!
Thanks for the post/feedback Jim and glad to be of help:). Stay the course - at 78 you are just beginning ... GREAT to hear and keep up the good work!:) You are an inspiration to us all!:) 'A Vikings fan from Florida' gave me a good laugh ... I suspect you are a snowbird or relocated from Minnesota at some point?
Hey buddy, thank you for making my day. I bought this camera today with both the lens kit and it costed me $499 with extra battery, a bag and 2 years extended warranty. I believe it was a steal deal.. :)
Hello Naveen and thanks for the comment!:) That is a GREAT deal and the lowest I have seen!:) Nice grab!
That's a great deal., where did you buy it from? i am looking to get one now!
Also a great video! thanks for all the info!
That was a Black Friday Deal at Costco Wholesale in USA.
Naveen Chawla costed not a word. *cost. That's all.
Accidentally watch one of your video and then watch most of the video about D3400 and now I buying one D3400. Kinda excited to start taking pictures
Thanks for the post and glad to be of help/inspiration!:) Welcome to the wonderful world of photography!:)
This is not my first comment on this video, because I watch it frequently to learn more about the settings used for low light photography. Thanks for providing the settings, and demonstrating the capabilities of the D3400. While it's on the low end of Nikon's DSLR offerings, the sensor is superb, and you've done a great job of showing the kind of images it can capture when in the hands of a competent user.
Thanks for the post/feedback William and glad to be of help!:) Agreed - the D3400 is a solid camera in my opinion. I have used it countless times over the last couple of years and continue to use it today ... a bit of knowledge and experience will go a long way with this camera:).
If you need to get to know a 3400 camera this guy does just what you need hands on , not someone who reads the booklet.
Thanks for the post/feedback!:)
Vídeo com Nikon D3400👇🏽
th-cam.com/video/GZvb07J9sLU/w-d-xo.html
Não esquece deixa um like e subscrever no meu canal por favor 🙏🏾
Good deal. Consider, after a few months test a coupld of Full Frame prime lenses from 35mm 1.8 down to 24mm 1.8 or if you want to go mid-tele an 85mm 1.8 and then you will have a very cheap camera which can be the 2nd body if/when you go for a FF Nikon. I recomment the D750 which will really drop look at it if it hits under $1,000, It is a great FF for low light because it has the largest pixels in a mid-price Nikon at 6µm. I have the D750 and a D850, the best pair for the money and all of my needs. Good-luck.
Just purchased a D3400 and stumbled onto your videos. A big THANKS. I can’t believe how much you have taught me in a few short hours. Thank you so much for producing these videos.
Thanks for the post/feedback David and glad to be of help!:)
You've been a huge help getting me started with my D3400! Even though it's considered to be a dinky, entry-level DSLR, it's a big jump from a smartphone camera. It's awesome to have professional advice for free on demand.
Hello Luke - thank you for the feedback and glad to be of help!:) The camera is funny ... I have shot with many cameras over the years and find the D3400 growing on me:). It is an entry level camera but I find it to be more capable than I originally thought:). My next video will be on intro to flash. I may create a series of videos on just using flash as I have various ideas. Take a look at my video on P, S, A, and M modes as I feel this is important for anyone starting out ... then practice, practice, and practice some more:).
Great video. I picked up one with both lens for $499 on cyber Monday. This is my first DSLR so I think I'll enjoy it.
Hello Paul and thank you for the comment:). NICE buy!:) I will soon release various how-to videos which should help get you started.
Paul Barnes reply if you can please, i am planning to buy one but still need some advice from you about it ...is it good or bad and what are your thoughts about it?
Lmao I picked one up on cyber Monday a year later haha
Man, you sold me on this camera.
Great camera and glad to be of help!:)
I have been researching this camera for a while but u am now 100 percent sure I want this. I'm mostly looking to use it for nature shots and maybe the wildlife as well.
Honestly, I'm just looking to see how far this camera can take me until I choose my next camera.
Thanks for the post/feedback and glad to be of help!:) I suspect you are on the right path ... use this camera to test the waters. This is a fully capable camera with some good features, etc.
Can you get nature shots such as birds moving without the VR on the zoom lens?
"Man with the magic hand". What you do with camera is truly outstanding. Love your photography.
Thanks for the post/feedback Pratik!:)
I bought a D3300 for my wife for a change of her D3100 a while ago. And an AF-P 18-55. The lens was surprisingly high-tech for it's price of 50 bucks used. AF was incredible. And in video mode is very intelligent. Yes, plastic was bad,. Front cover locking mechanism was broken, lose the sense of manual focus- feels more digital. But it was really good, silent and compact. After some profile tweaking i found a really great smooth picture in NL, almost film-like. Pushed dynamic range to the max. The only thing i notice is a bit purpulish tone on whites, as far as can tune a white balance offset. But it was in some light conditions. Just shoot and get a really nice prints from jpgs, instantly. Really smooth and detailed. Love it! Definitely has it's own feel.
nice! i like the d3300 as it shares many similarities compared to the d3400. the AF-P is great/solid in my opinion. :)
Thanks for posting your camera settings with the pictures, I've just got into DSLR's and those will be handy cheat cards for me.
When your dog ran away I got a good giggle from it. Thanks for this review! It was extremely helpful!
Nice man u are the only one that took so many photos and actually showed us the photos view...you got a subscriber!
Thanks for the post/feedback and welcome to the channel!:)
My wife got me the D3400 today as an early Christmas gift, it's my first DSLR, cannot wait to start shooting with it!!
Welcome to the world of DSLRs and the D3400!:) Take time to understand the camera and features. Since this is digital, have fun and practice, practice, practice:). Do not be concerned with exploring all the features and settings ... this is how we learn:).
Hello....I bought this camera today..... thanks for the video.... lots of respect from India.
Thanks for the post and welcome from the United States!:)
Lol I liked the part when your dog ran away and the guy in the song laughed as you chased it! I thought that was clever, haha. Good video though, thanks for the review!
Thank you for this video it helped me make my decision! Can't wait to get my first DSLR!
Welcome to the world of DSLRs!:) Practice, practice, practice, and have fun!:)
Vídeo com Nikon D3400👇🏽
th-cam.com/video/GZvb07J9sLU/w-d-xo.html
Não esquece deixa um like e subscrever no meu canal por favor 🙏🏾 video cinematic
I always wanted my own stand alone camera to shoot awesome photos, but I was unsure about the right camera for me. Those are some freaking awesome photos man, including the ones in the forest and the street light photos.
Thanks for the post/feedback Trevor!:)
This camera is my Christmas present this yr. Ordered last night as it was in a Black Friday sale for $499. Came with 2 lenses, case,32mb card,free online class. I've been looking at this months.. excited about it being here in a few weeks..
Congrats on the purchase/camera!:) It is a great deal on the camera ... I saw the same and thought to buy again!:)
Real Photographer on review. Nice job!
That 1 dislike, why the hell. Great video!
Hello and thank you for the feedback and sharing my thoughts!:) Unfortunately, a dislike can happen regardless of ones effort to produce a solid/quality video. Whenever I view another video, I am always appreciative of the effort someone took to share. If I find value in a video, I let the owner/producer know with a nice comment and thumbs up. If find no value, I simply move on. Just my two cents:). Thanks again!:)
RealWorld Very true! Regardless, thanks for putting the time into making this great video, it just helped me make my decision. Thanks again. :) Beautiful pictures by the way.
Thanks for the feedback and glad to be of help!:)
photogr, D3300, with DX 35mm 1.8g lens, your opinion please.
Hello Robert - great lens - go for it in my opinion:). The 50mm 1.8 is another great option. In many circles photographers talk about the 35mm and 50mm ... both are great. I carry the 50mm but have also used the 35mm.
Really good video mate! you explained everything really well and your review was very helpful! I will definitely buy this from what I have heard on your video!
Thanks for the post/feedback and glad to be of help!:)
Thank you for the info. I just bought D3400. I am totally new to photography. I can't wait to get out there. I think your photographs were great.
Thank you for the post/feedback and welcome to the channel!:) Enjoy the camera and stay with it ... once you dive into the world of photography a whole new whole of creative will open.
I bought this camera today after viewing your review.... Lots of respect from India
Thanks for the post Nalin and glad to be of help!:) Enjoy the camera!:)
Awesome video. lol dog running away.
I was thankful to catch the dog quickly!:)
and the singer laughs at the same time, incredible timing
6:01 😂😂 You got it on camera 🎥 🐕..🏃♂️
6:03. 😀 like if you get it.
Subscribed for future vids! 😂 Thanks for this review of the Nikon D3400. I recently bought it as my first ever dSLR and I couldn't be happier with it. It's a solid beginner camera which lets me make great shots, it's user-friendly, and it's not too steep in terms of its price.
One comment though, SnapBridge is capable of transferring a full-resolution JPEG via Bluetooth. I've tried it multiple times, and it works. However, the transfer rate is just painfully slow. But as you said, "entry-level dSLR", right? 😂
How long does it take? I take lots of pictures, so I'm sure it will take a long time.
@@trevorbetty939 at JPEG fine and large image size, each picture took at least 3 minutes before they were transferred to my phone. You'll be better off using a card reader to transfer photos.
@@danielalbertcastillo3713 Ok, thank you. I'll just keep doing what I have been doing with the SD card.
@@trevorbetty939 yep. It takes forever via Bluetooth 😂
Thanks for the post/feedback and welcome to the channel!:) Agreed - SnapBridge can take a relatively loooong time to transfer large images. SnapBridge started off rough (tough to connect, etc.), but Nikon provide a newer firmware which seemed to resolve many issues. If you have a newer camera, I suspect you may have the latest firmware. I created a video which might help to confirm/check - th-cam.com/video/yiVxtrOmSUw/w-d-xo.html
Would this camera be a good choice for product photography? I'm a sculptor and need a good camera to photograph my small sculptures. Great review!
thank you for the post and glad to be of help ... certainly (good for product photography) :)
i enjoy all your videos sir! it helps a lot. i already bought d3400 and your tutorials really helps. i learnes a lot from you, thanks so much and keep on doing such amazing videos.
Thanks for the post/feedback Jerry!:)
You can send the full quality pics via the app, but it takes too damn much to do it, so I do it a lot quicker via OTG
Hello Alex ... agreed:)
OTG?
JoseeF3 The adapter that lets you connect a normal size USB to your phone (Android)
is there one for a iPhone?
JoseeF3 I have no idea.. maybe there is, but I don't know if you'll be able to access the storage
I always shoot raw
Raw is the way to go IMO:). Raw will give you the most from the camera and let you decide what to drop in post processing:).
may i know titles of the songs that you used on your videos? i find it so relaxing and cool..
agreed:). I exchanged messages with the band - groups/solid group ... Music by: J Hacha de Zola (song is Blue Sky)
RealWorld thank you so much sir!😊
Thank you! I just bought one of these for my mom to be her first DSLR after reading good reviews, and this video gave me an idea of what I gave her. I think I made the right choice. Loved you including the photos you took with it. Would have liked more about how sturdy you feel the construction to be/how nice it feels in the hand. Best wishes!
Great review, I shoot with a D3200 over here in the UK and only recently started in December, hoping to get a video up soon.
Great content.
thanks for the post/feedback:). the D3200 is nice/capable ... enjoy the camera:).
Nikon 3400 or Canon 700d which one is best......?
I would lean towards the D3400 ... higher resolution (24mp vs 18), much better battery life (1200 shots vs 440), and Nikon removed the AA filter (making for slightly sharper images). The one advantage to the 700D is the articulating screen.
I made a good choice... just got d3400 few days ago :)
Enjoy the camera and have fun ... practice, practice, practice!:)
Abdul Bahyz nikon have best camera
+ 60fps in 1080p vs 30fps for the 700d
If I got a dollar for every time he says Entry Level
LOL - the only reason it is considered entry level is because the 3000 series is the starting lineup for Nikon. The camera is solid/capable in my opinion:).
@@RealWorld I bought this just over 2 years ago (it had just been discontinued) and people think it's a pro and more expensive than it was.
For a beginner photographer, would you recommend the Nikon D3400 or the Canon T6?
Hello and thanks for the question!:) DSLRs allow photographers to be more creative and capture unique images. I would suggest going with the D3400 over the T6 as the Nikon offers much better battery life (1200 shots vs 500), higher resolution (24mp vs 18mp), slightly faster burst mode (5 vs 3), and Nikon removed the AA filter making images a bit more sharp.
RealWorld great thank you!
After seeing this video I'd consider buying Nikon D3400 over Canon T6 but I'm wondering if the bluetooth isn't a problem because I'd really like passing the pictures to my cellphone so do you think it'd be a problem for me?
Isadora Guillén it's easy but you have to download snapbridge to download them to your phone .
does it record in HD1080 ? Thanks
Sure appreciate all your videos so far. Just bought a DLSR yesterday, The only thing I'd have appreciated seeing is how adjusting the lens manually with your hands fits into the whole PSAM picture.
Thanks for the post/feedback!:) Congrats on the camera - take time to practice, practice, practice and creative doors will open:). I have an older fixed 50mm lens which requires manual focus. After using auto focus for so long, it is tough to go back to manual:). Very doable but you must ensure to dial-in the focus which can be tough on moving subjects:).
RealWorld thank you for that reply! Just shows how totally clueless I am. But I was referring to the kit lens. The 18-55. So, are you saying I needn't touch it - that I could have adjusted the zoom from the body?
Anyway, I want to compliment you on your easygoing, patient, kind teaching style. I love that I needn't leave my house to learn! Cheers from California.
Thanks for the feedback and glad to be of help!:) My fault - I originally thought you asked about manual focus:). After taking a closer look, I see you were asking about zooming which is a different story:). Yes, you will hold the lens in your left hand and rotate the lens clockwise or counter-clockwise to zoom in or out. If I think about it while creating the next video I will point out some basic tips and trick for holding the camera, etc.
Watched most of your videos. Bought d3500 recently. Still watch your videos. It helps. Thanks
Glad to be of help and enjoy the D3500 - a great/solid camera:).
i liked the song. wow amazing *+*
Also I'm moving from a go pro session / iPhone 6 and 7 camera to the 3400 for my videos. Will the lack of the audio jack really hurt my audio or will it be tolerable if nothing else? I'm trying to get the depth look (auto focus, blurred background etc) but I don't want my audio to suffer. Would love your opinion!
Great question!:) If the camera had a mic-in, you would most likely want to get an external mic (like a Rode mic). The built-in mic is not too bad in a relative quiet environment but can be tough outdoors with slight wind or indoors with a good amount of ambient noise or if you are relative far from the camera. I created a video showing the difference between the Sony a5100 built-in mic and the Zoom H1 using a cheap lavaliere mic ... video can be found here: th-cam.com/video/4StJ6QmYvpQ/w-d-xo.html ... will the built-in mic on the D5300 work? Yes. If you want better audio and still want the D3400, consider getting the Zoom H1 and cheap lavaliere (amzn.to/2c5ITrP (don't be overly concerned the 3.5 star rating IMO - it's not the best but it does the trick:)). You can find the Zoom H1 on Amazon as well or from Best Buy if you have one nearby:). Hope this helps!:)
I truly appreciate the in-depth answer! I've never had a DSLR before and I was recommended the D3400. I can tell my quality will go up LOOKS wise but I never want any aspect to suffer. I really appreciate it, and I defiantly mean it when I say you deserve way more subscribers than you have!
Thank you for the feedback!:) DSLRs are addicting in various ways IMO:). Once you discover how to manipulate three key aspects, you will be on your way ... aperture which controls background blur, shutter speed which stops motion, and ISO which controls detail. Post processing is an important part of the overall enjoyment as well ... this allows the photographer's creativity to sore IMO:)
RealWorld I can tell this will become an unhealthy addition rather quickly! Also one last question (I'm still a total novice) that 3.5mm jack you linked me, is there a port on the 3400 for it? Or do I need to buy an adapter or anything else for it? If all I truly need is the cable that would be great :)
Unfortunately, the D3400 does not have a mic-in port (so there is no place for a 3.5mm to fit). The cheap lavaliere mic I linked will connect into the Zoom H1:). This might seem a bit overwhelming at the start, but you will get the hang of it soon enough:). If you use the Zoom H1 and a cheap lavaliere mic, you will need to sync the video and audio which can be done using post processing software like adobe premiere, power director, etc.
When I shoot indoor sports the lighting in my pictures are always weird. For example, one side of the picture is very dark while the other side might be brighter. My friend says its probably the white balance but my camera is always on auto white balance (I shoot on sports mode). What should I do?
Hmmmm - curious to see a few shots. If you have them posted somewhere, please post a link. Indoor sports are challenging for various reasons. If you want to capture fast action indoors, you need good lighting and/or a fast lens (meaning a lens with a wide open aperture (f/1.4, 1.8, etc.). If you ever look on the sidelines of major sporting events, you will typically see photographers with long/large lenses. These are fixed/fast zoom lenses capable of shooting 400mm at 1.8 for example. Unfortunately, the cost is too high for most to afford:). A great alternative in my opinion is the fixed 50mm f/1.8 which is much more affordable. The obvious trade off is zoom:). You can only reach 50mm but if you have the ability to get relatively close to the action, not a problem:). Regarding your images ... white balance related to the over color of the image so I do not believe this is your issue. I suspect one of two issues: 1) general lighting. Perhaps your subject is closer to a light source of some sort causing the image to be brighter on one side vs the other. 2) you are using a flash with a fast shutter. The flash sync speed is typically around 1/200th of a second. If you attempt to flash a subject and force the shutter speed past 1/200th of a second, this can cause the given issue. The shutter will move too fast for the flash to proper light the entire frame.
RealWorld www.flickr.com/photos/152964942@N05/24029160368/in/dateposted-public/ you can see that some of the images are bright and then dark in others. One thing i noticed is that the first picture i take is usually bright, and then when i take burst shots it gets dark throughout the image. Is this normal? thanks.
NICE picts!:) Great to see you are putting everything into action!:) I have taken indoor volleyball picts as well using the same 50mm f/1.8 - a great lens for many reasons:). I see a slightly although noticeable difference between DSC_0026 1 and DCS_0025 along with a few others ... both are viewable in their own respects but a color shift is noticed when viewed side-by-side ... this question is why? I suspect the answer regards white balance:). I can see in some of the photos a gym light which might be fluorescent (DSC_0154). Nonetheless, gym lighting is typically not a photographers friend:). I would suggest switching from auto white balance to fluorescent ... take a couple of shots and see if that is any better. Were these shot is jpeg? If taken in RAW, you can select the white balance in post edit using a tool like Lightroom:). Hope this helps!:)
RealWorld thanks sooo much! i'll be sure to try this out during my school's next game!
lordofbuns lordhotsos hey man is it working?
Thank you, I just bought the D3400 as my first camera after this review. I was considering a bridge camera, but the quality and price of this DSLR was too hard to pass up.
Welcome to the world of DSLRs - a great camera for the price in my opinion:). Practice, practice, practice, and have fun!:)
Realworld, cruise was great other than getting stuck on the ship due to an injury to my foot in San Juan,Puerto Rico. But I was able to get over 200 photographs of my friends wedding and cruise photos.
Sounds like a good time with exception to the foot:).
Is this an entry level dslr?? 😀😀 Nice review. Mine is in the mail.
Right?!:) Agreed - this is great fully capable camera in my opinion and welcome to the world of DSLRs!:) Take time to understand all the features and practice, practice, practice and above all else - have fun!:)
Hello. Overall what is better, canon 1300d or nikon d3400? thanks
raymond gargar the Nikon is better ;)
+Alex Momo thank you!
Hi Raymond and thanks for the question!:) I would go with the D3400 over the 1300D/T6 IMO. The D3400 has MUCH better battery life, greater resolution, a few more focusing points, and lacks the AA filter. Hope this helps!:)
One more excellent review!!!!
Hi Bruno and thanks for the comment!:)
I endorse your suggestion to put more money into a lens like the 18-200 VR. That is exactly what I did years ago when I bought my first DSLR, a reasonable priced Nikon D60 combined with the more expensive 18-200 VR - which I am convinced will outlive the D60 by far - I'm still using both though, with the single addition of a 35 mm 1.8 for the special occations.
My previous combinations of SLR's with multiple lenses simply caused to much hustle and bustle and loss of opportunities. Availability and readiness should not be underestimated. The D60 is still enough for me. The real challenge is to bring it into the right place at the right moment.
Well stated!:) I typically use the 18-200 and carry a fixed 50 f/1.8. I really like the fixed 50 with a wide open aperture to capture nice blurred backgrounds and/or fast moving action:).
Picking one up tomorrow for 400. Camera, tripod, car charger and wall charger, SIM cards and extra battery and both lenses
Sounds like a great deal ... enjoy the camera!:)
Nikon D5300 VS Canon 700D VS Nikon D3400 Can't decide which one is the best so please help!!!!!
I want the best Video & Audio quality & The best pictures..
So please help me which one should I choose!!!!
Hello - I will give you my two cents ... cross the Canon 700D off the list. If a rotating screen is important, go for the D5300 BUT ensure the lens is AF-P and not AF-S. Since you mention video is important, you will want the AF-P lens (this is Nikon's silent auto focus system). You can still record video with the AF-S lens, but the camera will hunt and make noise to find focus as you pan or zoom (very annoying in my opinion). The 18-55mm kits lens included with the Nikon D3400 has the AF-P. Unfortunately, the D3400 does not have a rotating screen. The rotating screen is nice to have but not required ... if you plan to do any self-compositions, the rotating screen is very helpful as you can imagine:). Regarding image quality ... the D3400 and D5300 share the same sensor and resolution which is nice. Another quick note - the D3400 does not have a built-in mic jack. The camera will still record audio with the built-in mics but you will not be able to connect an external mic for better sound ... this may not be a big deal but worth noting. Hope this helps!:)
RealWorld
Thank you Very much for your reply . As I want good audio in the video so I will attach a mic so am going with Nikon D5300!!!!!
Am taking the AF-P lens 18-55mm & the 70-300mm ...
So ty real world for helping me choosing the right camera!!!!!
Nice and glad to be of help!:) I suspect you are on the right path!:)
Nikon d3400
but what about 39 auto focus points , 11 cross focus points in D5300 comparing to 11 auto focus points in D3400 and 1 cross focus point? What kind of photography requires more auto focus points?
Can I save location on D3400 automatically. And how?
Thanks for the post/question:). Unfortunately, no. The D3400 does not have built-in GSP so no location information can be saved, etc.
But some one told me you can save location when you connect this camera with your mobile phone. Photos will automatically saved with Geo tagging. Please confirm me is it real or fake..
Yes you can if you use snapbridge it will allow and actually ask if you want to when you set snapbridge up. You have to have the location option enabled on your phone for this to work
@realworld how did u get picture at 7:30?
Thanks for the post/question!:) This is a matter of understanding/control depth of field based on distance to subject, aperture, and focal length. I created a video discussing depth of field in more detail which can be found here: th-cam.com/video/EGesxJeY8_s/w-d-xo.html ... another good/quick source/tool found on the web can be found here: www.photopills.com/calculators/dof ... once you have a basic understanding of this concept, you will be in great shape:).
Long shutter, low exposure. Use a tripod
High exposure*
You deserve to have more subscribers than what you have now. Quality content!
Thanks for the post/feedback!:) The channel is growing ... slow but certain!:)
@@RealWorld by the way, will you be doing a video on the latest Nikon D3500? Not sure D3400 or D3500 to go for first timer.
Ahhhhh yes:). I plan to review the D3500 as soon as I can get my hands on one:). From what I understand, there are only a few minor differences between the two.
i watched that video when i was begginer and looking for a first camera.I remember how many times i watched that video to get my hype up .Now i'm happy with my 3500
LOL - awesome and glad to be of help ... hope you are enjoying the D3500!:)
This guys smile scares me
LOL - it is all good!:)
RealWorld I’m just joking I’m trying to get likes really good vid😁
Just bought this camera with the 18-55mm kit lens refurbished and on sale for $360 before tax from the nikon website. Real excited to use it
Thanks for the post!:) Wow - sounds like a great deal!:) I like refurbs ... you stand to save a good amount.
Great video. I am a long time Canon shooter since 2005. Rebel XT, 20D, 40D, 5DII, and just recently sold my 7D and lenses(TODAY). I've been looking around and I'm really drawn toward the Nikon D3400 or possibly D3300. You're the only person I've seen that has talked about the file size limit on the Bluetooth. After hearing that I'm leaning towards buying just a D3300 body and adding glass to it. I've had all prime setups in the past and really loved it. Maybe just grab the 18-55mm if it's part of a bundle and cheap enough. I also need a macro solution. I'm in the watch repair business and sell parts as well. Some parts are no more than 1 or 2mm in size. So, having something that can clearly take photos without a huge amount of cropping and image quality loss is nice. I had extension tubes on the 7D, but found it hard to light the things I was shooting because I had to have the lens right on top of the watch or parts. Can you suggest anything for my needs? Again, thanks for the wonderful video.
Thanks for the post/feedback!:) Macro lenses are fun and have the ability to capture awesome detail. One relatively affordable lens to consider in my opinion would be the Nikon 85mm f/3.5 (amzn.to/2sIjhNC). Lighting is always a challenge depending on the situation:). I miiiiiight suggest the Sigma ring flash (amzn.to/2sIyVZt). I stress might only because I am looking for alternatives - not that it is bad, just looking for more affordable:). Regarding file size limits on Bluetooth - yes, it is a problem in my opinion and I may create another video providing more details, etc. Nikon believes most people want to take photos w/ their nice cameras > transfer them to their phone > upload to sites like instagram (only access with mobile devices). The problem is this - I believe a good amount of creative comes in post processing. The composition, lighting, focal points, etc. lay the foundation for the image, but post processing adds polish ... polish that can really enhance the overall image to make it unique in my opinion. Nonetheless, the D3300 and D3400 share the same sensor, resolution, and overall image quality ... you should be fine:).
Thanks for the tips and clarification. I think the D3300 should be fine. I currently run RAW files through Lightroom and sometimes CS5. And you're right, the post processing does add the polish and I enjoy it. Plus, when I do my parts I list them on eBay through my desktop anyway. I've already seen some sub $300 deals for used D3300's, so this should leave room for a couple good lenses. I'm certain I will enjoy this more than the 7D. I was having problems with it and also noticing noise at low ISO levels. Will be nice to be using newer gear and not being let down. Thanks again. let me know if you know of any other solutions for macro. Subscribing to your channel as well. :-)
Every explanation is good and very helpful thanks a lot. And one question with the 18-55 p type lence is its good at continuous auto focus?? Because quick focus is much important for me..
A little late for this video but here it goes. I’m an old time SLR film user and its been about 30 years since shooting. I have also shot video of my kids growing up (e.g., sports, band, graduation, family etc.). That has been about 15 years ago. They (i.e., my kids) are each expecting their first child and want to get back into shooting video and stills with one camera. I’ve narrow down my search to the Nikon 3400, Canon t6i and Panasonic Lumix G7. I like all f them but in particular the Nikon lenses, battery length…not snapbridge and non-articulating screen; I like Canon’s color, articulating screen, focusing, wifi and not the battery and cost; G7’s articulating screen and 4K capability - although not sure of 4K use and impact with storage and post processing and looks a little on the cheap side? They all appear to be close in price with the Canon a little more expensive - but all manageable. Of your video reviews you appear to favor the Nikon (i.e., and me too) but not sure if not having an articulating screen will haunt me down the road. I’m figuring I’ll download images via the camera or a disk reader and snapbridge should not an issue - also I’d use my phone for 2 meg photos. What do you think? I tried to keep short as this is my “top level” thoughts… LOL.
Thanks for the post!:) Wow, sounds like you have done your research and have experience in the field both of which I respect:). If you were more into video, I might lean towards the G7. Panasonic is great on video but the G7 has a smaller sensor and weaker battery (to be expect given it is mirrorless). I am not big on 4k at this time as I feel 1080p looks great and most videos on viewed on mobile devices (huge files and very hard to distinguish 4k from 1080p on a mobile device in my opinion:)). I feel Canon's STM lens (found in many T6i kits) is great at tracking focus for video. In addition, the T6i's live view is better than the D3400 in my opinion. I reviewed the T6i which can be found here - th-cam.com/video/sTi9aUTITlo/w-d-xo.html Nikon removed the AA filter (anti-aliasing filter which tends to soften images to some extent; many photographers like to see this removed) from the D3400. Nikon includes the AF-P lens in most kits. The AF-P is Nikon's silent AF system intended to compete the Canon's STM. While I like the STM over the AF-P, the AF-P does the trick. The D3400 lacks the articulating screen, but not a huge deal in my opinion unless you want to self compose:). On a side note - the D5600 has an articulating touch screen ( video review here - th-cam.com/video/qDeW1PYCnmA/w-d-xo.html ). While I use the D3400 in many videos, any of the given techniques will apply to any given camera. If I were in your shoes, I would determine the primary function (mainly video (G7), equal video and photo (T6i), mainly photos (D3400)) and budget. Many cameras hold their value which is good (more so for lenses than bodies). Hope all this helps!:)
Thanks so much for your reply. I appreciate your expertise and recommendations. I really enjoy your informative videos and look forward to new ones - no pressure...LoL. Yes, I need to envision usage and am now thinking the Canon with extra battery might be the way to go. The videos will be great with the grandkids and family but will want to expand more into photography too. Thanks again.
I have this camera for now about three months and love it
Upgraded lenses make this a beautiful camera
Thanks for the post and agree - nice lenses can make a difference:). I am reviewing the Nikon 18-300 today and should have a review vid out in the next few days:).
Wow those night shots are awesome!
[checks Ebay]
Oh yeah, I think I found my camera.
Good job! And thank you for emphasizing the absence of an anti-aliasing (which Nikon calls a low-pass) filter on this camera. I wish I had known about that before I went with Canon. It's on all of their DSLRs, and degrades the sharpness of the image a lot, especially on the APS-C models. This looks like a great camera for still photography, but if you use that non-stabilized 70-300 lens it better be on a tripod, unless the shutter speed is 1/250 or faster. Also, the lack of a microphone jack is a serious minus for videography, since in-camera mics are never very good.
Hello Patrick and welcome to the channel!:) Thank you for the comments and I agree on all fronts:). I have successfully used non-VR lenses at slower shutter speeds, but the faster the better:). I am not certain why Nikon included a mic input on the 3300 but pulled it from the 3400. Nonetheless, the 3400 is a great place to start IMO!:) I just got my hands on the Canon T6i which I plan to review in the next day or two ... I plan to take a closer look AA impact along with other features, etc.
Thanks! I've discovered that, though it seems obscure and nerdy, it's actually a pretty big deal. So much so that Nikon prominently features the lack of it in their promotional material for their expensive pro level D810 and also the D500. Again, I was pleased to see you point it out in the review, and if you really want to do the newbies a favor, encourage them to remove those godawful UV and skylight filters from their lenses too! :D
Hi RealWorld, Thanks for this great test and review for Nikon D3400.. this is what ive been looking for! 2 thumbs up for this!
Thanks for the post/feedback Romar and glad to be of help!:)
I went ahead and bought a refurbished D3400 with a TON of extra goodies for $279. What a deal, but the kit lens it came with only has an F-stop of 3.5, if I zoom in even a little it only goes to 4.5 I was hoping to see if I could capture the Milky Way but something tells me this 18-55 kit lens isn't going to cut it.
Do you have any suggestions for a better lens with an improved F-stop that isn't ridiculously expensive for this camera?
Thanks for the post!:) Sounds like you got a great deal as well!:) I created a video on shooting the stars with the D3400 which can be found here - th-cam.com/video/8uvW4HL3sso/w-d-xo.html ... the zoom range on the 18-55 kit will vary from 3.5 - 5.6 depending on the zoom. If you are zoomed all the way out, you can open the aperture to 3.5. If you are zoom all the way in, you can open to 5.6. When shooting the stars, you should be fine using various apertures. The key to seeing them will most likely be the ISO (if you shoot at f/8, you will need to increase the ISO to some extent in order to see the start when shooting at a shutter of 25 seconds or less (shooting more than 25 seconds will increase the change of seeing blur)).
Great video. Easily understood technical points. After seeing this I ordered a package for my wife for Christmas. I will update to let you know how things went.Thanks again
Just picked this one up as 1st dslr. Granted I did get the dual lens and bag kit through Micrcenter for $500. Thank you for showing full exposure settings with each test pic! This will be an excellent refrence vid as I familiarize myself more with the cameras capabilities!
Sir between Sony A5000 and Nikon D3400... which one according to you would be best for mid level vlogging and also pictures?
Hmmmm ... one major issue with the a5000 is overheating when shooting video (this can happen around 10 mins of continuous shooting). i might lean towards the d3400 although the video AF will struggle. if you are open for another suggestion, i might suggest the Canon t6i or t7i (t6i will be more affordable though). i have review both which can be found here:
t6i - th-cam.com/video/sTi9aUTITlo/w-d-xo.html
t7i - th-cam.com/video/jgvPRGscehs/w-d-xo.html
i would lean towards the t6i or t7i over the d3400 if you plan to shoot video. Canon does a nice job with AF when shooting video IMO:).
Hey! Just a follow up, I actually picked up this kit the other day and was able to transfer a 7.2 Mb file (JPEG, havent tested Raw) and there is an option to remotely activate the camera from your smart device!
Hello and thank you for the follow-up:). I just completed a review of SnapBridge and plan to upload in the next day or two. Transferring images from the camera back to a smartphone is limited to 2mb. In addition, Nikon does not offer the ability to remotely control the camera from a smart device using SnapBridge (SnapBridge can be used to remotely control other cameras in the Nikon line (i.e. the D500) but not the D3400). Stay tuned to the channel for more information:).
Thanks for the Video RealWorld great info and perspective! Im brand brand new to photography but I really want to get into it. I dig this vid because of the the honest and obvious professional approach you take as well as the encouragement. keep it up!
Welcome to the channel and thank you for the feedback!:) I am glad to be of encourage and encourage you to go for it ... many years ago I discovered the world of photography to be a creative outlet. It allows me to creatively compose a scene and tell a story with one shot, one instance ... some stories are better than others and some are stories that I may only understand, but they are stories nonetheless:). Thanks again for the feedback and welcome to the world of DSLRs!:)
Hello. Nice and usefull review! I have one question: What you will choose between d3400 and d3500, if the price of d3400 is smaller with 100$ than d3500? Thank you in advance.
Thanks for the post/feedback/question:). I would lean towards the D3400 ... Nikon removed the IR sensor and function button from the D3500 ... everything else is virtually the same:).
Thanks mate. Just convinced me to get this over the Canon 700D. I've always borrowed friends DSLRs so it's time to get my own as I've finally put my original Nikon FE to rest.
Glad to be of help!:)
Excellent video with some great "need-to-know" thoughts. I am an avid hunter and fisherman so I encounter wildlife quite often throughout the year and would love to capture the beautiful images so that everyone can see what I see. I am personally considering delving into the photography world(wildlife,nature) and this video helped me in my decision; however, it would be great to see a comparison video for starter DSLR's and your opinion on which would be the best to begin with.
Hello Nick - thanks for the post/feedback!:) DSLRs are great for wildlife as I like to trek through the woods myself:). I have used a good number of cameras over years. I have not touch all entry level cameras but focused on a handful. If you want small/compact, you might consider a mirrorless like the sony a6000 which you should be able to find used and save some money. The a6000 is a good/solid camera but a different feel compared to a DSLR like the D3400. The D3400 is a solid entry level DSLR in my opinion and has a much better battery life compared the a6000. The Canon T6i is another consideration if you want a rotating screen which can be nice (but I would lean towards the D3400 before the T6i unless the screen were important for your needs).
I love my D3400. Amazon has the 55-200mm VR for $150 and the price for the 70-300mm VR just dropped to $250. My experience is that setting the aperture manually and then letting the camera set the shutter speed gives the best results. It will bump up the ISO insanely high on auto and I do not like the grainy look, so I set it manually at 400. The color this bad boy gives is like Technicolor. Hand held shots on full telephoto with the 55-200mm are rock steady. Love it
Thanks for the post. The 70-300 VR is nice for extra reach when needed. I feel comfortable extended well beyond 400 ISO:). The higher one goes, the grainier the image but with a APS-C sensor at 24mp, the camera does a great job with higher ISOs in my opinion. If you want to have a faster shutter in lower light situations, let the ISO rise:). If too high, consider using a good noise reduction feature in post production (some work better than others:)).
I am still figuring my D3400 out. I am not much of a computer guy so I tend to focus on getting the shot right with the camera. Do you have any advice on 2x teleconverters? I am beginning to think they are just not worth it, the reviews are all over the place.
Hello Egar - I can respect that:). When I shot with film, you had to get in right in camera:). Nonetheless, I can and may create some basic how-to videos regarding Lightroom (Lightroom is the go-to application for many photographers rich with various features). As you move forward with digital photography, you will need to think about storage, easy retrieval, etc. ... it will help to warm-up to some package - any package:). Are teleconverters worth the money? I rarely use them ... I may leverage one if trying to capture a shot of the moon. I would suggest to hold-off unless you have a specific need OR you find a used one for a good price.
The Nikon 2x's are $300-500 and even they seem to have issues. Quality control? I don't know. I am going to get the 70-300mm and then 2x on my computer and leave it at that. TY again!
How good is the 70 to 300MM zoom that comes with the 3400? Is it good for capturing wild life and sports?
This is doable:). Since the wide open aperture at 300 is nothing to write home about, it is still doable. The catch? Turn up the ISO:). I have done the same and it works well. If you go too high, the resulting images will have noise but I shoot in raw (you can shoot in jpeg as well) and remove in Lightroom ( I have a video on removing noise in Lightroom as well - th-cam.com/video/pKnpLb32j1w/w-d-xo.html ).
@realworld Hello. Picture at 6:21, how did you do it? Focus is basically right in the middle of the table in a straight line and everything else is in nice blur-bokeh. At what settings did you shot? Spot focus? I just don't understand, if you can explain. By the way, I'm new at photography.
Do u think this is a good starter camera for beginner photographers?
What's wrong with the 300 lens? It seems to come in handy taking distance landscape shots. I didn't know about the lack of the shock absorber so, not good for wildlife stuff I guess?
Thanks for the post/question Chris ... are you referring to the 70-300? If so, I created a review on the 70-300 and feel the results were relatively solid:). The biggest challenge for wildlife is the aperture ... have a good zoom with a wide aperture is always a plus for wildlife photographers. The 70-300 does not have a super wide aperture at 300, but you can raise the ISO to increase the shutter speed if needed:).
@@RealWorld Thanks, as you may have guessed I'm so new at this I stink. Yes, it's the 70-300 kit lens you get with the D 3400. I'm trying to learn everything at once. and the lenses are what I least know anything about. If I could catch your review on that lens it would be great. So far I'm practicing landscape and night shots all in manual mode and I need a lot more practice. And to know which lens to use for what. Your videos are great! I learned a lot from them Thanks!
Not a problem ... you will get there!:) Manual mode can be more challenging but fun ... keep an eye on the exposure meter and make the appropriate adjustments and you will fine:). Here is a video I created on the 70-300 - th-cam.com/video/1RaXjNuD6ls/w-d-xo.html ... I remember this day - coooooold:).
I have D3400.. Now i want to upgrade.. Which one i should purchase as my first prime lense.. 50mm or 35mm? Which one have good background blurr effects?
I created a video on the both the 50 ( th-cam.com/video/e2TZVu7yZig/w-d-xo.html ) and 35 ( th-cam.com/video/BG0eZZaMmYE/w-d-xo.html ). The decision will be based on personal preference. Nonetheless, I prefer the 50 ( amzn.to/2kD7EkF ), as I like more zoom/reach with the lens:).
Still,one of the best D3400 review out there.
Thanks for the post/feedback!:)
I want to buy this camera, but I read its sensor doesn't have a self-cleaning mechanism. I wonder if that is a big deal.
this is late to respond but no, the self-cleaning is a not a big deal:). the self-cleaning function is simply a micro vibration on the sensor to help loosen any dust particles that may have settled ... not a huge deal IMO:).
My boyfriend got me this camera as a Christmas gift last season. I have never used a DSLR brfore, so it's been a learning experience. I am pleased with it so far, but I'm mainly into doing bird and nature photography. Is this the right camera to use for that? I haven't been able to perfect it.
Thanks for the post/question Kim!:) Sounds like you have a nice boyfriend!:) Capturing birds can be tough with any camera. The D3400 does not have a huge number of focal points but you can still capture birds. The simply technique is to spray and pray (meaning take a bunch of shot using continuous shooting and hope you get one or two keepers:)). This will take time, patients, and practice, but you can do it!:)
I do a lot of natural landscape photography and mainly purchased this kit because of the 70-300 lens. Regardless of it not being VR, with any good tripod the lens has proven 100%. The 18-55 lens is good but I use the 70-300 85% more of the time.
Hello - welcome to the channel and thank you for the post!:) You are absolutely correct - with a good trip and/or fast shutter, the VR does not come into play. VR is primarily helpful if you are shooting on the fringe - meaning the camera needs a slightly slower shutter to properly expose an image. If you have a tripod or any solid surface, VR is mute:).
RealWorld
Agreed, and I love your channel. I really appreciate the reviews on this as I am not a beginner but it's been 20 years since I have used an slr camera. Can you give any hints as how to use an extension wide angle lens on this kit? My kit came with 2 extra screw on lenses. One is a 2.2X High Def AF Telephoto lens and the other is a 0.43XHigh Def wide angle lens. I have attached them both to the 55MM lens but can't make heads or tails out of either. Thanks. :)
That is crazy u can literally see the individual cell dots in the leaf picture 😍😍😍
Awesome, right?!:)
Nice night and nature shots. Just got a used one with a 18-55 on fleabay, watching vids.. This was a good one, thanks!!
glad to be of help!:)
I have a d3200.... It taught me a lot about photography and I'm sure this is a great camera.
Hello and thank you for the comment:). The D3200 was/is a good starter as well ... the D3400 builds upon the 3200 and 3300. I am curious to see what Nikon plans for the D3500:).
Hi I’m a new photographer and I have a D3400 now for about a year. And looking to upgrade to a Nikon D7100 would this be and upgrade or a down grade for use in 2019 for small gigs portrait and street photography please give me feedback Thank you
Thanks for the post/feedback Mark!:) Although the D7100 was released in 2013 and the D3400 in 2016, the D7100 has a few advantages ... build quality (feels more durable/solid in my opinion), more focal points (51 vs 11), faster max shutter speed (1/8000 vs 1/4000, 1/4000 might be faster enough for most situations though), time lapse, mic port (if you plan to record sound using an external mic during videos), and is weather sealed:). I shot with the D7000 for many years and enjoyed the camera - it was/is a beast. When I first got my hands on the D3400, I thought, wow - this thing is light and might easily break, etc. After using the D3400 for the last couple of years and going back to pickup my D7000 I think, wow - this thing is heavy!:) There is one thing I would like to see in the D7100 that is in the D3400 ... a higher ISO (25600 vs 6400). You may never shoot above 12800 on a crop sensor, but I have definitely shot above 6400 is relatively low light situations without a flash. Hope all is this helps!:)
Great video. Some really nice photos. Really showed off the camera.
I know this video is 4 years old but after watching it I just went and ordered a d3500.
Seems to be the ideal camera for me in terms of price and image quality.
I've got a nikon b700 which is great but just wanted an interchangeable lens camera with a bit better IQ for when I'm not out taking wildlife photo's.
Thanks for the post/feedback!:) I still shoot with the D3400 today and have done so on many photo adventures:).
Hi so I dont know if I just didnt get it but y did u use the back button focus? Like what is the purpose of using it/what makes the difference?
Thanks for the post/question Lizbeth!:) BBF is great as you do not need to hold the shutter button halfway down to lock focus. If you push too hard, the camera will take a shot. In addition, if you lock focus and attempt to recompose the shot, you need to hold the button halfway down. This is one of those things that will make more sense once you use it - and give it time to gel:). Not certain if you caught my video on it - th-cam.com/video/6qUebpQeclY/w-d-xo.html
I have been looking between the D3400 and the D5300. I have done photography in the past but it has been many years. And I am looking for a entry level to start with. Which do you prefer or is there a different one with a similar price point that you would choose over these? I will mainly be looking at landscape, travel and up close. Not looking to do video. So was thinking a prime 50mm lens, but where they are crop sensors, should I go for a 35 mm? Is there a prime lender like that or should I stick to the 50?
Thanks for the post Erin:). Both cameras are solid with the main difference being the screen (the D5300 has a rotating screen). They both share the same sensor and resolution as well. I would suggest the D3400 w/ the 18-55 kit and if you budget has room, go for the fixed 50 f/1.8:). I like the fixed 50 on a crop as well. I find it great for portraits and any low light situation where you need a wide open aperture. I created a review on the fixed 50 which can be found here - th-cam.com/video/e2TZVu7yZig/w-d-xo.html and the fixed 35 which can be found here - th-cam.com/video/BG0eZZaMmYE/w-d-xo.html ... both are good but I tend to like a bit more reach.
my lovely song don't the end ,,,, A thousand times and a thousand times listened it at day, thanks so much about this video it's so beautiful , more again and again song
Thanks again for the post/feedback!:) I have exchanged messages with the band ... a great group with great sounds in my opinion:).
Amazing review :-) I have brought this DSLR .
But the one that I brought has the VR feature on the 70-300mm lens
Thanks for the post/feedback and congrats on the D3400 kit!:) Nice find to have the VR on the 70-300 ... in the US I have only found kits with the non-VR 70-300. Makes sense to include the VR:).
Was there a price difference? I mean it's aged quite a bit
The lens itself is an anti-aliasing filter, owing to the finite wavelength of light, and the finite size of the aperture, so removing the filter from the sensor has little effect. This can be understood in terms of Fourier optics. Further details are given in e.g. . Nikon have most likely omitted the filter because it saves them money! Lens aberrations will also filter high-frequency components from the image, particularly at wide apertures (small f-ratio).
Thanks for the post/information:). The primary purpose behind the AA filter is to reduce moire. AA filters sit in front of sensor and work by refracting light into 4 different paths. This inherently creates a very slight blur but hardly noticeable to the naked eye. Nonetheless, nice to have it removed in my opinion:).
+RealWorld: I think you may have been slightly misinformed about anti-aliasing. Moiré patterns are produced by similar repeating patterns that differ _slightly_ in some way. Aliasing is a consequence of the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem which applies to any band-limited sampled mathematical function. This generates artefacts in a sampled function from high frequency components that are sampled at a rate which is lower than double their frequency. In a two-dimensional image, these artefacts can have the appearance of a Moiré pattern, and may be described as such. However, they are more properly called aliasing artefacts, and can manifest itself in other ways besides Moiré patterns. They can be removed by applying a low-pass filter to the signal that blocks all frequencies above the Nyquist-Shannon limit (i.e. half the sampling rate) either by a physical filter or digital signal processing. In a camera, the lens itself is such a filter, as explained by the theory of Fourier optics. The digital image processor in the camera likely does some work on this as well. So, I am quite sure that the engineers at Nikon understand all this theory very well, and realised that the anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor does not really serve any useful purpose in a D3[2-5]00 camera, and simply dumped it after the D3200. You can do the calculation for yourself and see that this is true!
You are wealth of knowledge!:) I had a basic/good understanding but you have shed additional light on the topic. Curious to know know more about your background, as I suspect an engineer of some sort?:)
+RealWorld: I am a senior research scientist, physicist, computer scientist, astronomer, and sometimes do a bit of chemistry, and I still _love_ learning new things. The great thing about physics and maths is you can just work out stuff and find answers to problems. However, photography is also an art where you need to take the camera out of its bag, remove the lens cap, and get on with taking pretty pictures. The soul-destroying manuals and menus that come with modern digital cameras are the biggest obstacle to this activity in the *Real World*, so your videos with great, practical ideas like how to set up back-button focus are a huge help. It still doesn't quite fulfil my desire to turn the aperture and focus rings on the lens though! :-) Pushing buttons is not quite the same thing when trying to be creative.
Can't tell you how happy I am that you pronounced it 'Nikon', and not Nic-on like lots of others on TH-camrs!
LOL - too funny james as I have received a handful of comments over the last year or two regarding this topic:). I did not pay much attention to the chatter until one day when I decided to research the topic:). The correct pronunciation is neekon ... I am hit and miss when I create new videos. I have always pronounced it nikon (as written (long 'i')):).
Hey there. I first talked to you last fall when I got my D3400. I've been happy with it and have learned a lot from your videos. My pictures are getting much better. I do wish it had a mic jack on it. I was wondering what camera you shot your video for this with? Its super sharp. Thanks a bunch for all the vids.
Thanks for the post and glad to be of help!:) The D3400 is a solid/capable camera:). I shot this video with the Sony a5100 ... the a5100 does a great job with locking focus but has one major flaw in my opinion - the camera will overheat when shooting video for more than 10 mins roughly. This can be very frustrating when shooting multiple takes, etc.
@@RealWorld I can see where that would be a major drag. I forgot to say I dig the tunes you pick for your videos. I play guitar and keys. I can relate to the tunes you pick.